Talking too much can kill your career

If you have the gift of gab, it can limit your opportunities to move ahead. Communications pro Barbara Pachter offers these tips to rein in loquaciousness:

Figure out when or why it’s happening. Four possibilities:

1. You don’t keep in mind what the listener wants to hear.Example: During a meeting, you ask a colleague where he bought his watch. Instead of saying, “At a great local store when I was on vacation in San Francisco,” he spends five minutes talking about going to six stores.

If people want more detail, they’ll ask more questions.

Always say and do the right thing in any awkward office situation … and impress clients with your impeccable business manners with the Business Protocol Handbook

2. You take the roundabout way, instead of the direct route. Instead of “Let’s get together next week,” the person says, “I was just thinking, if you have some time and are not busy, we ought to get together next week.”

Say what you need to say in as few words as necessary.

3. You repeat what others have already said. Repeating back what someone has said is an effective communication tactic. But in a group setting, reiterating or paraphrasing what someone else has said, can come across as one-upmanship.

Discover the critical connection between business and profit. Courtesy still matters and can make a huge impression on a potential client … or go a long way to soothing an angry one. You can add profits to your bottom line simply by knowing the right thing to say and do in countless situations. Get your copy of Business Protocol Handbook today!

4. Talking when you shouldn’t.Example: You continue to talk during a meeting, even after others have given cues that no more discussion is needed.

Diagnose yourself with the help of voice-mail systems. Listen to the messages you leave for others. How do you describe what you need?

Do a quick mental run-through before speaking. Before you add your comments during a meeting, for example, ask yourself, “Do I really need to say this?”

Leave reminder notes for yourself. One person put the initials KIS at the top of his papers to remind him to “Keep It Short” when he speaks up in meetings.

The Surprising Link Between Protocol and Profits

In today’s competitive business world, you need every advantage to get ahead and stay ahead. In business, etiquette can be just as important as an airtight contract or keeping a client happy. Now here’s a simple way to know the best thing to say and do …

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The proper phone etiquette to turn angry callers into happy customers

And so much more.

You’ll find answers to proper and courteous behavior in your copy of Business Protocol Handbook. This practical guide will show you how to act socially on a business level with your boss, your co-workers and your customers. Order it at no risk. If you’re not delighted with the information, simply return it for a full and prompt refund. Order your copy today.

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